The consultation response on the Draft Rented Sector Strategy ‘A New Deal for Tenants’ has been published and the Scottish government will undertake further discussions with key stakeholders to inform and shape the final rented sector strategy and legislation.

Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns, is among those continuing to engage with the Scottish government, amid growing concern among letting agents and the private landlords at some of the proposals being made.

Douglas, who attended a roundtable meeting with Patrick Harvie, minister for Tenants’ Rights, last week to discuss the strategy and rent controls, commented: “Some of the proposals within the strategy are causing major uncertainty among letting agents and the private landlords they represent, at a time when the sector is already under huge strain and desperately in need of more investment, not less.

“The Scottish government has already pushed ahead with restrictive legislative changes that will make it more difficult for landlords to take possession of their properties, despite warnings from housing professionals of the consequences.

“We urge ministers to carefully consider the impact of any further reform to ensure it does not create additional risk that disincentivises more of the 240,000 private landlords who provide much-needed homes for Scottish people to live in.”